AP World Introductory Vocabulary

BCE

Before common era

Bureaucracy

Large group of people who are involved in running a government, but are not elected

CE

Common era

City state

A sovereign state consisting of an autonomous city with its dependencies

Democracy

A form of government where power is retained by the people

Dynasty

Family of rulers who rule over state for a long period of time

Empire

A political construct in which one state dominates over another state, or a series of states

Ideology

Body of doctrine or belief for an individual or a group

Imperialism

The practice of a nation forcefully imposing its rule or authority over other nations

Indigenous

Or originating in a particular region; Native

Monarchy

Supreme power held by one person and passed on their family heirs

Nation state

A sovereign state inhabited by a relatively homogeneous group of people

Oligarchy

Form of government in which all powers in the hands of a few people

Republic

A state where the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to select representatives to represent them

Tributary state

A state that is subordinate to a more powerful neighbor